Growing Oleander

Plant oleander in any well-drained soil in full sun. Nerium is salt tolerant and suitable for planting right on the dunes. Keep newly planted bushes moist until they are well established and have developed their characteristic drought tolerance.

Pinch the young oleander plants regularly to promote branching. Once they begin to flower, plants will usually branch on their own.

Oleander can survive temperatures as low as 0 degrees F. but the top growth may be killed. It will reemerge from the roots the following spring.

Keep tub plants moist except in the winter months when they should be
kept on the dry side. Feed them monthly in spring and summer.

You can propagate your oleander plant by taking tip cuttings in the spring or summer. Oleander
cuttings root easily.
Watch for scale and mealy bugs, especially while the plant is indoors.
Launch an offensive the moment you notice either one of these pests.

Why Oleander Caterpillars are Not for the Birds:

Birds will not eat them as they do other caterpillars because they
are full of oleander which is poisonous to everything except the
oleander caterpillar!

Oleander plants grown outdoors may be attacked by the dreaded oleander caterpillar. These 2 inch long orange worms have black spots and tufts of black hair lining both sides of their bodies. They are the larvae of a purplish black moth with white dots on its wings.

The only good thing I have to say about the oleander caterpillar
is that it won't sting you if you touch it like most other hairy
caterpillars. All these pests eat is Nerium oleander. They appear in large numbers and can defoliate your plant almost overnight.

Look for their eggs on the undersides of the leaves of young
shoots. There will be 12-75 eggs in a mass. Destroy these or the newly
hatched larvae and you won't have much of a problem.

If you can't or don't want to pick the bugs off, there is an organic control. Bacillus thuringiensis
commonly called BT, is a bacteria that is only harmful to caterpillars.
You mix it into water and spray the plant when the pests are present.

Organic Caterpillar Control

Oleander Poisoning

All parts of the oleander plant are poisonous. Caution
children not to put any part of it into their mouths. Dispose of any
trimmings carefully. Never burn the stems as they will emit an
extremely irritating smoke.

Symptoms of oleander poisoning include:

Blurred vision

Diarrhea

Nausea

Stomach pain

Vomiting

Slow heartbeat

Weakness

Confusion

Dizziness

Fainting

Headache

Hives

If you develop these symptoms
after exposure to oleander seek immediate medical attention. Make note
of the part of the plant that was ingested, the amount and the time.

Oleander Poisoning can be Fatal

If you have any questions about poisoning--from plants or anything
else--you can call The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222)
from anywhere in the United States. This is a free service available to
you every day, around-the-clock.